Vacuum cleaner



J. P. WlED VACUUM CLEANER May 20, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 25, 1949 INVENTOR. JUL/us 7? W150 flTTOR/VEY May 20, 1952 J. P. WIED VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. JUL/US P W150 ATTO/P/Vf A y 20, 1952 J. P. WlED 2,597,690

VACUUM CLEANER Filed Nov. 25, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. 84 Ji/L/ us 1? W150 M/QW l atented May 20, 1952 VACUUM CLEANER Julius P. Wied, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to The Apex Electrical Manufacturing Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application November 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,385

9 Claims.

This invention relates to the separation of entrained matter from gas by the application of centrifugal and other force to the gas and entrained matter, and more particularly to a vacuum cleaner embodying dirt separating means of this type.

In a co-pending application of Archibald H. Davis and Charles N. Hay, entitled Dust Separator, Serial No. 788,850, filed November 29, 1947, now U. S. Patent 2,542,634 dated February 20, 1951, a dust separator operable by imparting a cyclonic action to dirt-laden air is disclosed as being embodied in a vacuum cleaner commonly referred to as the upright type, wherein the cleaner as a unit is propelled over a surface to be cleaned by a handle. The present invention relates to adapting a dust separator of the type disclosed in the aforesaid application to a vacuum cleaner of the type normally employing an extension hose and tubular wand to which floor cleaning and other tools are attached for cleaning purposes.

According to the invention, a dust separator which comprises a substantially cylindrical shell having one end portion converging inwardly to an end wall, a tangential inlet, and an axial outlet, is encased by a generally tubular housing forming a dust collecting receptacle. A motor and fan assembly is disposed beneath the separator and the air is normally discharged through silencing means. The parts forming the dust collecting receptacle may be easily and quickly removed for disposal of dust. Means are provided for protecting the motor from dust in the event that the receptacle becomes overloaded with dust through neglect in emptying the receptacle at proper intervals. An improved valve arrangement associated with the cleaner permits the extension hose to be quickly converted from a suction creating means to a blower means.

It is a primary object of the invention to embody a dust separator adapted to separate entrained matter from air by cyclonic action in a vacuum cleaner of the type having an extension hose adapted to have cleaning tools associated therewith for normal use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner of the above type having a dust collecting receptacle which can be quickly and easily detached for disposal of dust.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner of the above type having a motor which is cooled by air passing from the separator and wherein means are provided for protecting the motor from dust in the event the dust receptacle becomes overloaded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner of the above type having valve means associated therewith whereby the extension hose can be quickly converted from a suction creating means to a blower means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleaner of the above type having means for silencing or reducing the noise caused by discharge of air from the cleaner.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a vacuum cleaner of the above type having relatively few parts, which can be economically manufactured and assembled, and which is relatively compact.

Further objects of the invention and the invention itself will become increasingly apparent from a consideration of the following description and drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical medial sectional view of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a staggered transverse sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the lower portion of the cleaner which houses the motor and fan assembly with parts broken away for clearness of illustration Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of a valve means which I may employ, adjusted to create suction in an extension hose;

Figure 5 is a view generally similar to Fig. 4 with the valve means adjusted for blowing air through the extension hose;

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of closure means illustrated in Fig. 4 as viewed from a plane indicated at 66; and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view showing linkage for operating the closure means illustrated in Fig. 6.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly Fig. l, I have indicated generally at I0 a dust separator which comprises a shell having a side wall which is slightly tapered for a major portion of the shell length as indicated at I I, or this portion of the shell is in the form of a frusto-cone. The remainin portion of the side wall indicated at I2 converges inwardly along a curved path to join an end wall I3. This portion of the shell conforms generally to an ellipsoid or the entire shell may be considered to substantially define a semi-ellipsoid. Extending upwardly from end wall I3 is an axially disposed tubular outlet I4 and a plurality of supporting legs I6 (preferably 4) extend downwardly from wall I3. An inlet generally indicated at I! merges tangentially with the arcuate portion I2 of the shell. The outlet l4 and inlet H are more fully disclosed and de scribed in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,542,634 and only a brief description is given herein.

The lower portion of the cleaner housing consists of a generally cup form housing member 18 preferably formed of sheet metal. Member (8 has an annular ridge I9 formed in its base which supports a motor and fan assembly generally indicated at 2|. The motor and fan assembly is of conventional construction wherein a high speed electric motor drives a fan encased in a housing provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots 22 through which air is discharged and difiused. Air passing from the separator is used to cool the motor and passes interiorly of the motor housing in reaching the fan. Thus, the cooling air must be substantially free of dust to avoid injury to the motor parts and the means by which this is effected will be explained in detail hereafter. The assembly 2! is cushioned by mounting the same on rubber or the like tubes 23 which are secured by projecting screws 24 through ridge l9 and the tubes to threadedly engage the fan housing. Screws 24 also secure a ring form element 25, preferably formed of sheet metal, to member l8.

Element 26 has an inturned top flange which supports a generally disc shaped member 21, member 21 being detachably secured to element 26 by screws 28. The peripheral edge of member 27 is encased by a rubber ring 29 which engages the interior wall of cup member It] to provide an effective seal at this zone. The central portion of disc member 21 is of inverted cup form as indicated at 3! and the side walls of portion are pressed outwardly at circumferentially spaced points to provide openings 32. The pressed out parts of the side wall provide horizontally extending short flanges 33 which help support a ring form filter element 34. Disc member 21 is formed to provide an annular shoulder 35 which supports the outer portion of filter element 54. The filter element may be formed of any suitable material which will filter out dust and permit the passage of air therethrough, but I preferably employ felt or the like material. A rubber ring 35 forms a seal between the motor housing and disc member 21.

It will be noted that an annular passage 31 is formed between the side walls of cup member l8 and element 26 and a ring of glass wool or the like material indicated at 38 is disposed in the upper portion of the passage. Above ring 38 the side walls of cup member l3 are pressed outwardly at circumferentially spaced points to provide a plurality of discharge openings 39. From a standpoint of appearance I preferably encase the flanges formed in providing the openings 39 with a ring of rubber or the like as indicated at 4!.

It will also be noted that the base of cup member l8 including ridge l9, the element 26, the disc member 21, and rubber ring 35 form a chamber 40- encasing the fan difiuser slots 22.

The dust separator I0 is supported by the spaced legs IB which rest on the central portion 31 of disc member 21 and the separator is held in fixed position by the inlet H which extends through the side wall of cup member IS. The upper end of the separator is formed with an external annular shoulder 32 to which is bonded a sealing ring 63 formed of suitable material such as rubber. The side wall of cup member l8 at its upper end is of step form to provide an annular shoulder forming a seat for a sealing ring 44. The sealing rings 43 and 44 support parts forming a dust collecting receptacle indicated at 46. The dust collecting receptacle comprises a ring member 4'! generally U shaped in cross section, the inner wall of the ring member having a top inturned flange 48 adapted to sealingly abut rubber ring 43. Although I preferably bond or secure ring 43 to shoulder 42 of the separator, it is understood that it may be secured to flange 48 of ring member 47. I preferably form the ring member in two parts and of plastic material such as a plastic formed of a styrene resin. The part indicated at 49 is generally cylindrical and is formed of a transparent plastic while the remainder of ring 4'! is formed of an opaque plastic and the plastic materials are bonded together along the joint indicated at 5|. Since the ring 41 is adapted to collect dust, the part 69 serves as a window indicating the dust level. Of course, the entire receptacle could be made of transparent material, but the opaque material hides the parts disposed beneath the receptacle from View. A cover 52 preferably formed of plastic material, is provided with a peripheral groove within which a sealing ring 53 is secured, the groove being adapted to receive the top edge of part 49 which abuts ring 53 in sealing relation. Conventional snap clamps 5e detachably lock cover 52 to ring 41 and detachably lock ring 41 to cup member H3.

The central top portion of cover 52 is depressed to provide a conical bafiie 56 which projects within the shell of separator l0 and the battle terminates in a vertically extending and slightly tapered side wall 5! to provide an annular opening 58 between the separator wall portions H and the wall 57. A handle 59 which has its ends secured to wall 51 is provided for grasping the cover or for carrying the dust collecting receptacle comprising the ring 47 and the cover 52.

The operation of the parts so far described will now be explained. Electrical leads extend from the motor to a terminal block 5| and thence to a conventional socket 62 mounted in the side wall of cup member l8. Although not illustrated, a switch to control the motor circuit may be used if desired. Upon connecting an extension cord plugged into socket 52 with a power source, the motor and fan will be actuated. Dirt-laden air will be drawn into inlet H and directed to the interior of the separator shell. Since the air strikes wall portion [2 generally tangentially it will have a whirling action imparted thereto and at the same time, due to the curvature of wall portion E2 or its gradual divergence outwardly as it proceeds upwardly to merge with tapered wall portion ll, the air is also directed upwardly. Thus, the dirt-laden air is first caused to move in a generally helical or cyclonic path proceeding upwardly. The relatively heavy dust or dirt particles are thrown by centrifugal force against the interior wall of the separator shell and due to the upward movement are carried through the annular opening 58 and deposited in the receptacle L6. Due to the combined effect of the baffle 56 and the suction created by the fan in outlet [4 the air is then directed downwardly while continuing its whirling motion in the same direction. Thus, the air is caused to move upwardly in an outer cyclonic path and downwardly in an inner cyclonic path but relatively greater centrifugal force is applied to any dust particles in the inner path due to the sharper change of direction of the particles and the increased speed caused by moving a given volume of air along a path of reduced circumferential extent in a given interval. Relatively light particles will thus be thrown into or through the outer cyclonic path and carried upwardly along the shell wall through opening 58. The separation of entrained dust particles from air in this manner is more fully explained in the aforesaid Patent No. 2,542,634.

The cleaned air will then pass through outlet I4, between legs [6, through filter element 34, through openings 32, interiorly of the motor housing to cool the motor, through the fan, and will be discharged through diffuser slots 22 into the chamber 40. I provide an outlet tube 63 having a normally open mouth 64, the tube passing through the wall of element 26 and discharging into passage 31. Tube 63 is generally rectangular in cross section inwardly of element 26 and upon entering chamber 31 the bottom wall of the tube is cut away so that the portion of the tube extending between element 26 and the side wall of cup member I8 is of inverted U form. It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that the bottom edges of the tube side walls extend somewhat below the bottom of ring 38. The ring abuts the tube side walls so that air passing through tube 63 will be discharged beneath the ring and distributed circumferentially around passage 31. The air will then pass upwardly through the ring material and be discharged to atmosphere through the eircumferentially spaced openings 39.

I have found that by passing the air through a relatively large mass of glass wool, steel wool, rock wool, or the like, and then discharging the air through a plurality of small ports, that the objectionable whistling or hissing noise attendant upon the discharge of air through a single port in a conventional cylinder type cleaner is deadened or substantially reduced.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that I have provided slots 66 in the upper portion of ring 4'! which are covered by a screen 6?. The slots are preferably equally spaced circumferentially and are elongate in a vertical direction. The screen is shown as disposed internally of ring 41 but may be disposed externally thereof and bonded or otherwise suitably secured to the ring. The purpose of the slots or vents 66 will now be described. A certain amount of whirling air is discharged or forced into receptacle 46 and serves as a vehicle for carrying dust into the receptacle. However, if this moving aircannot escape it creates turbulence and disturbs the dust already collected in the receptacle thereby tending to carry collected dust back into the separator shell. To avoid this condition I have provided the slots 66 whereby air entering receptacle 46 is drawn through the slots into the space formed by the external wall of the shell and the internal wall of ring 41. Since this space is subjected to suction created by the fan, this air is drawn through the motor and discharged to atmosphere as preadditional dust will not be accommodated by receptacle 46. Accordingly, if the cleaner continues to operate under these conditions the dust will remain in' the separator shell and be drawn through the outlet I4. Since dirt-laden air would quickly damage the motor, I provide the filter element 34 as a safety device, preventing dirtladen air from reaching the motor under these conditions.

In the event the filter element 34 should become clogged or require replacement for any reason, this can be easily effected, since the separator shell and the inlet ll integrally connected therewith may be rocked about the point of connection of inlet I! with the side wall of cup member [8. As best illustrated in Fig. 4, I provide a metal ring 68 which abuts the inner surface of the side wall of cup member 18' and is secured thereto by screws 69. The side wall of member 18 is perforated to provide an opening for the passage of incoming dirt-laden air and ring 68 is aligned with this opening. Screws 69 project through the side wall of member 18 and thread-.

edly engage a valve device generally indicated at H. A sealing ring 12 is bonded or otherwise secured to the inner surface of ring 68. Tubular inlet ll may be hinged to the side wall of cup member [8 in any suitable manner, but I preferably weld a pair of L-shaped arms l3 thereto. one being disposed at each side of the inlet. A pair of ears F4 are fixed to the side wall of cup member l8 and a pin 76 projects through the ears and arms thereby forming a pivotal connection. If it is desired to remove or replace filter element 34, the receptacle 46 and cover 52 are removed and the shell and tubular inlet I! are rocked counterclockwise (Fig. 1) about pin 76 as an axis which will lift legs l6 out of contact with central portion 3| of disc member 21' and permit filter element 34 to be removed and replaced by a new element.

In the event it is only desired to use the cleaner for creating suction, the screws 69 may afiix a tubular element to the external surface of the side wall of cup member 18 and this element will have its external or outer end adapted to receive a conventional coupling associated with an extension hose. The hose will normally include a metal wand adapted to have cleaning tools attached thereto whereby suction will be created at the tools and dirt-laden air will be drawn through the tools, the extension hose, and the entrained dirt will be separated from the air in the manner previously described.

Although a cleaner of this type will normally function as a suction device, it is desirable that it be adaptable to also function as a blower device whereby it can be utilized in a conventional manner for spraying paint, demothing, and the like. To achieve this dual function, I have provided a simple valve arrangement whereby the air normally exhausted to atmosphere through the openings 39 will be directed through an outlet or blower port. As best illustrated in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive, the valve arrangement comprises a casting having an upper tubular portion 11 which is secured to the side wall of cup member l8 by screws 69. Integrally joined to tubular portion 11 is a lower tubular portion I8 which projects through aligned openings formed in the side wall of cup member I8 and element 26. A vertically extending rib l9 connecting the tubular portions is formed with a boss 8| within which a pin 82 is press-fitted. Pin 82 supports a rotatable converter element generally indicated at 83. The

Qnvertc 'elenientcomprises the tubular portion 84,;a bearing portion 88 which engages pin;32 andanarm 81 which is provided with horizontally=extending slots as indicated at 88. A compression;spr ing 89 abuts the outer, face of rib 19 and theL inner face of arm- 81 and tends to hold the converterelementfie spacedfrom the casting.

11in ans-headed at one end and slotted at its opposite end. A latch handle 98 has an vend ,portion plioiectedwithin the slotted end of pin 82 and pivotally connected thereto by a pin 9|. Rib l9 hasa lug 92 projecting therefrom and converter element 83 has asimilar lug 93 whereby when the parts are in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, the lugs willabut to align the tubular portions H and 84. :Whenthe handle 90 is rotated downwardly theinner. edge thereof will cam the element 83 into :engagement with the casting against. the forceof. spring 89. To effect. a tight sealbetween tubular portions H and 84,. a rubber gasket 85 is bonded-to the end face of tubular portion 84. The outer end of tubular portion84 is adapted toengage .an extension hose (not shown) through suitable coupling means. Coupling means of the type contemplated are well known and may be of ,the bayonet type whereby a pin projecting from. tubular portion 84 would engage an L- shaped slot in a coupling member associatedwith the hose to sealingly lock the hose to portion 8 2.

.With the valve parts adjusted as described, dirt-laden air drawn through the hose is discharged to atmosphere as clean air through the openings 39. To prevent discharge of air through lower, tubular portion 18 I provide a closure plate 94 generally rectangular in form and which is hinged along one edge by a pin 95 which projects through cooperating lugs formed on the plate and the inner end of portion 18. Aspring 91 has one end fixed to portion l8 and itsopposite end fixed. to plate 94 and tends to hold the plate in sealing engagement with the inner end of portion 18. Under these conditions the mouth 64 of outlet tube 63 is open.

1 When it is desired to use the extensionhose as a blowing means with a paint spraying attachment orthe like, this isquickly accomplished by merely releasing the latch handleiiii or lifting it to the position illustrated in Fig.4, rotating the element 83 through 180 to the position illustrated in Fig. 5,.and rotating the handle Sli-upwardly into looking position. Ihe lug 82 is adapted to abut an innerswallof handle 98 to align tubular portions Stand 18. This connects the extensionhose with the lower tubular portion 18. The locking movementalso forces closure plate 93 out of sealing contact with the inner-end of portion 18 and into sealing .contact with mouth .64 of tube 63. This is effected in the following manner. The inner end of portion 78 isslotted as indicatedat- $8 to receive an end portion of .lever. 98 which projects between a .pair of lugs Hll integral with portion 8 a nd is pivotally connected .to the lugs by a .pin Hi2. A-rod I83 hasa down-turned end which-pro- JQQPS through a hole in lever 88. The opposite ndp pthe rod s s idinsly ported y .a lu 104 formed ;on the inner wall of 1 portion 18 and through which rod Hi3 projects and when closure plate 94 is in sealing contact with portion: 18,-,as illustrated in Fig. 4, lever 99 is entirely within portion i8 an d extends cross-wise thereof. The straight endof rod ilisgthen extends somewhat beyond portion. 18 as illustrated in Fig. 7. When tubular pprtions..84 and i8 are brought into .ena fimentapad I06 on. the inner wall ofportion 8A,;engagesthe end of rod I.03 and forces the rod to-therr ghtaor th dottedi i e pos tion illustrated in; E g- 7 incethe r d is hoo edto l ver. 99;.t free endof; t l ver is. rc d utwa dlman a en n le t th en f of p rtion .8-a 11i trated i i This mov ment of; th zlev rxi sufi cient 'topus clos re-p ate, 94 L nto sealin conta with' the obliquely :c trm uth 64' ofriil b 63. "Irprefe ab y: f rm p t 94- 0f relatively: so t material such :as al mi um. and-t av id-undue wear, -apad 101- of hard metal::is fixed to-miate 94 at aposition to engage lever 99.

When tube, 63 issealed, air cannot enter chamber 31 .to be discharged-to atmosphere, but; instead is directed to portion. 18 and the extension hose .as; a stream .under positive pressure. If thevalveis again adjusted tothe position ofFig. 4,-,the plate 94 under theiniluence of spring 91 automaticallyseals portion lilandleaves-tube 63 openfor the discharge of air/into passage 31. Whenthe cleaner is being used asa-blower, air is drawn-into inlet H I through the horizontal slots 88 provided in arm 81.

In the event it is only desiredto'use the cleaner as a suction device certain parts can .be omitted for economy. .For example, the convertervalve arrangement would not be necessary and inlet 11 would project through the side wallof cup member 18 and be adapted to directlyconnect with anextension hose. The casting; including. tubular portion '18 and vthe'parts: supported by the casting would be omitted. Outlet tube 63 could be omitted and instead of a continuous'ridge. I9 spaced support pads for rubber tubes 23. could be provided whereby air issuing from diffuser slots 22 would pass under ring element 26 into passage31 and then be discharged to atmosphere through openings 39.

Although I preferably employ the converter element 83 I contemplate that this-part may be omitted whereby anextension'hose would be .directly coupled to the inlet or tubular portion 11 and to the blower tube or tubular portion 18. In this case the rod I83 would be designed to be engagedby the hose coupling and forced inwardly when the hose is coupled to the blower tube thereby closing tube mouth '64 by'plate 94 and effecting communication between chamber 40 and the blower tube.

I find that by providing a slight taper to side wall ll of the separator shell removal-of dirt is improved relative to a straight or cylindrical side wall.

'Itwill now be understood that I have provided a vacuum cleaner of the extension hose type adapted toseparate dust or dirt from-airby cyclonic action and wherein the dust is collected in a receptacle which can be quickly and easily detached from the cleaner for disposing of the dust. Also, the receptacle cover can bequickly detached. Since the dust receptacle has a smooth interior it is relatively easy to empty dust therefrom compared to a fabric bag used in a conventional vacuum cleaner. Also, I have provided means for Silencing or minimizing the operablenoise caused by discharge of air in a conventional, cleaner. Further, the valve arrangement described permits the cleaner to be quickly converted from a suction device to a blower de- VlCe.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited .to the exact details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur toa person skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A--vacuum cleaner comprising a-separator shell of generally semi-ellipsoid form having an upwardly open large end, a tubular inlet adjacent the small end of the shell and extending generally tangentially thereto for directing dirtladen air into the shell, an axial tubular outlet within the shell and extending from the small end thereof adapted to direct air from the separator shell, a dirt storage receptacle comprising a ring of U form cross section encircling the separator, and means for detachably securing the receptacle to the cleaner.

2. A vacuum cleaner comprising a separator shell of generally semi-ellipsoid form having an upwardly open large end, a tubular inlet adjacent the small end of the shell and extending generally tangentially thereto for directin dirtladen air into the shell, an axial tubular outlet within the shell and extending from the small end thereof adapted to direct air from the separ-ator shell, a dirt storage receptacle comprising a ring of U form cross section encircling the separator, and a detachable cover for the receptacle having a central baffle portion adapted to project into the upper open end of the separator to provide an annular opening between the separator upper wall and said portion.

3. The vacuum cleaner as described in claim 2 and wherein the baffle portion of the cover is of conical form and terminates in a circular upstanding wall substantially parallel to the upper side wall of the separator.

4. The vacuum cleaner as described in claim 1 and wherein the inner wall of the receptacle ring sealingly engages the open end of the shell and is spaced from the shell wall proceeding downwardly from the open end to leave an annular space intermediate said inner and shell walls, said inner wall having an opening therein effecting communication between the receptacle and said space, and a filter screen covering said opening.

5. The combination with a vacuum cleaner having an inlet for dirt-laden air, a fan, means forming a chamber encasing the fan, a tubular outlet effecting communication between said chamber and atmosphere, and a blower tube extending from the chamber through a wall of the cleaner, of means adapted to convert the cleaner from a suction device to a blower device, said means comprising a rotatable element pivoted on the cleaner and having a tubular portion adapted to be connected to an extension hose, the tubular portion in one position being adapted to sealingly communicate with the inlet and in another position being adapted to sealingly communicate with the blower tube, means for locking the rotatable element in either position, a common valve means for the tubular outlet and blower tube, and means extending between the rotary element and valve means whereby when the tubular portion is locked in communication with the inlet the valve means will close the blower tube and when said tubular portion is locked in" communication with the blower tube the valve means will close the tubular outlet.

6. In a vacuum cleaner, a fan, means forming a chamber encircling the fan adapted to receive air delivered by the fan, communicating means between the chamber and atmosphere, an inlet for dirt-laden air adapted to have an extension hose coupled thereto, a blower tube extending from the chamber to atmosphere, a closure normally sealing the chamber end of the blower tube,

means extending from the closure to the opposite end of the blower tube adapted upon being forced inwardly to move the closure from the blower tube to a position sealing the communicating means, and the extending means being adapted for engagement with an extension hose coupling whereby said means will be forced inwardly to effect sealing of the communicating means when an extension hose is coupled to the blower tube.

7. A vacuum cleaner comprising a separator shell of generally semi-ellipsoid form having an upwardly open large end, a tubular inlet adjacent the small end of the shell and extending generally tangentially thereto for directing dirtladen air into the shell, an axial tubular outlet within the shell and extending from the small end thereof adapted to direct air from the separator shell, a dirt receptacle comprising a ring of U form cross section encircling the separator, means for detachably securing the receptacle to the cleaner, the inner wall of the receptacle ring being adapted to sealingly engage the open end of the shell, said ring inner wall being spaced from the shell wall proceeding downwardly from the open end thereof to leave an annular space intermediate said inner and shell walls, said ring inner wall having an opening therein effecting communication between the receptacle and said space, and a filter screen covering said opening.

8. A vacuum cleaner comprising a separator shell of circular cross section having a curved lower side wall portion terminating in a substantially flat base, the upper side wall portion being straight and terminating in an upwardly open end, the shell progressively increasing in cross sectional area from the base to the open end, a tubular inlet adjacent the base and extending tangentially of the shell for directing dirt-laden air into the shell, an axial tubular outlet extending into the shell from the base and adapted to direct air from the shell, a dirt storage receptacle comprising a ring of U form cross section encircling the separator, and means for detachably securing the receptacle to the cleaner.

9. The vacuum cleaner as described in claim 7 and wherein the radially inner wall of the receptacle is of a diameter to be telescoped over the upper end of a shell whereby the receptacle can be lifted upwardly for removal from the cleaner, and sealing means are provided between the upper end of the receptacle and shell.

JULIUS P. WIED.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

